Monolithic cycling shoe sole

ABSTRACT

A monolithic sole for a road cycling shoe with a front cleat and a rear cleat suitable for cooperating with an automatic pedal. The monolithic sole includes, on its bottom face, a front cavity and a rear cavity located respectively in the front and rear of the zone of contact with the pedal and substantially in the middle of the width of the sole. The rear cavity opens onto the inner side of the sole. The front and rear cleats are placed respectively within the front and rear cavities such that they do not project from the sole, thus allowing the user to walk easily without the cleats causing discomfort, unlike conventional road cycling shoes equipped with standard cleats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a monolithic sole for a cycling shoe designed to collaborate with a cycle pedal provided with an attachment device, called clipless pedal. The clipless pedal enables a detachable mechanical connection to be created with the shoe in order to efficiently transmit the force from the shoe to the clipless pedal, in particular in the upward phases of the pedalling cycle. A cleat fixed under the sole and comprising connection means enables the shoe to be attached to and detached from the clipless pedal. This cleat is therefore an interface part between the clipless pedal and the shoe. Said monolithic sole is made from plastic or from composite material and provides a great rigidity so that it deforms as little as possible when subjected to the pedalling action.

The monolithic sole according to the invention can be used with any apparatus requiring a pedalling action but it is particularly suitable for road and gravel cycling and cycle touring.

PRIOR ART

In general manner, in the field of modern cycling where performance is sought for, the use of clipless pedals is generalised and their design can be divided into two types—road pedals for road cycling and MTB pedals for mountain biking. These pedals present a similar mode of operation—they are equipped with at least one attachment device comprising a front part, more often than not fixed, and a movable rear part that comprises a flexible member that tends to push the rear part towards the front part, the two parts thus forming a grip. The attachment device of a clipless pedal is designed to latch onto a fixed cleat under the sole of the shoe, said cleat comprising a front connection means and a rear connection means.

Pedals, cleats and shoes for road cycling and mountain biking are different in several aspects and present different advantages and disadvantages:

-   -   Clipless pedals for road use are equipped with a single         attachment device and are designed to have a large surface in         contact with the cleat so that the pedalling forces are         transmitted and distributed as best as possible. Cleats for road         clipless pedals are generally made from plastic and of large         size, comprise a front connection means and a rear connection         means for securing to the pedal and comprise protuberances         called “walking patch” that protect said connection means during         the walking phases. These are fixed under the sole of the shoe         generally by means of three bolts. Road cycling shoes comprise         soles made from plastic or from composite material so as to be         as rigid as possible for the purpose of transmitting the         pedalling forces in optimal manner from the shoe to the pedal.         They are light and are not provided with studs as the thickness         of the cleat fixed under the sole is such that the contact on         the ground in the walking phases takes place on the pad forming         the “walking patch” of the cleat.     -   MTB clipless pedals have an attachment device on each of their         surfaces to make the shoe attachment operation easier to perform         in steep terrain where the user, who is off-balance, often has         very little time to secure the shoe to the pedal. They have a         very small contact surface with the cleat to enable the shoe to         be attached even when the sole, the cleat or pedal is clogged up         with impurities (mud, stones, leaves, etc.). MTB cleats are         generally made from metal, are of small dimension and thin, and         are fixed under the sole of the shoe, generally by means of two         bolts. MTB shoes comprise soles that are less rigid than those         of road shoes and their underside is covered by an anti-slip,         abrasion-resistant coating over almost the whole of their         surface. A recess is present in said anti-slip coating where the         cleat is housed in the depth of said recess so that it does not         touch the ground during the walking phases.

The drawback of road shoes lies in the fact that it is practically impossible to walk, mainly due to the cleat placed under the sole, in the metatarsal region, forming a protuberance salient from the sole. Users of these shoes are only able to walk a few metres. They are forced to change into another pair of shoes dedicated for walking if they want to walk over longer distances, or for example to drive their car to reach their cycling place, or again quite simply if they want to have a comfortable shoe when walking as a part of their cycle touring activity. Furthermore, walking with road shoes can be dangerous as there is a risk of slipping on account of the hard plastic cleat that provides very little adherence.

MTB shoes can overcome this shortcoming as they make walking easier, but their lack of rigidity and the cleats used do not provide such a good transmission of the pedalling forces and the same level of comfort as road shoes.

Patent No FR3016153B1 proposes a solution to the problem that is posed, with an assembly composed of a shoe and a specific cleat in two parts. This solution consists in the sole of the shoe being made flexible over its whole width in the metatarsal region, between the front and rear attachment means of the cleat. The cleat is divided into two distinct parts—a front cleat and a rear cleat, so that the flexible area of the sole can keep a freedom of flexing. Furthermore, the front and rear cleats are embedded in the studs of the sole so as not to be salient, with the result that the cleats do not touch the ground when the user is walking. The advantage of this solution is that the gait obtained with the shoe is close to that of a shoe dedicated to walking, which provides an answer to the problem in question. However, this solution does on the other hand comprise the following drawbacks:

-   -   The shoe equipped with such a sole is less rigid than a         conventional road shoe comprising a rigid monolithic sole, and         is therefore less efficient for transmitting forces in the         pedalling phases.     -   The device to make the sole flexible adds an additional weight         to the shoe. This solution therefore enables the user to walk         while providing the possibility of using road cycling clipless         pedals, but it is not efficient for pedalling. The scope of use         is therefore rather that of commuter cycling in an urban         environment. For road cycling and cycle touring, this solution         is not suitable.

For road cycling and cycle touring activities, there is therefore at the present time no shoe available that is efficient during the pedalling phases that allows the user to walk easily, comfortably and safely.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The monolithic cycling shoe sole according to the invention provides a solution to the problem posed by moving about on foot with conventional cycling shoes as the cleat is not salient from the bottom surface of said monolithic sole. Walking is therefore comfortable and safe and the rigidity and weight remain identical to those of current road cycling shoes. The shoe equipped with the monolithic sole according to the invention thus keeps good performance and comfort characteristics in the pedalling phases.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by an assembly composed of a rigid monolithic sole of a cycling shoe made from plastic or from composite material, a front cleat comprising a front connection means designed to collaborate with a front attachment device of a clipless pedal and a rear cleat comprising a rear connection means designed to collaborate with a rear attachment device of said clipless pedal, said cleats being fixed to the underside of said monolithic sole. The assembly is remarkable in that, on its underside, the monolithic sole comprises a front recess situated between the front end of the sole and the contact area with the clipless pedal and substantially in the middle of the width of said monolithic sole, and a rear recess positioned substantially in the middle of the length and of the width of said monolithic sole and emerging onto at least one of the lateral sides of said monolithic sole, said front and rear recesses being dimensioned to respectively receive the front attachment device and the rear attachment device of said clipless pedal and to respectively receive the front cleat and rear cleat so that they are totally integrated in the depth of said front and rear recesses.

According to other features of the invention:

-   -   the front cleat is positioned in contact with the rear edge of         the front recess, and the connection means of said front cleat         is directed towards the front of the monolithic sole;     -   the rear cleat is positioned in contact with the front edge of         the rear recess, and the connection means of said rear cleat is         directed towards the rear of the monolithic sole;     -   the front recess and rear recess each comprise at least one hole         passing through the thickness of the monolithic sole, said hole         being designed to collaborate with the securing part of the         front and rear cleats;     -   the front edge of the rear recess comprises a protuberance         salient in said rear recess and situated between the rear cleat         and the lateral side of the monolithic sole into which the rear         recess emerges, said protuberance being designed to push the         rear attachment device of the clipless pedal towards the rear of         the monolithic sole in a detachment phase of the shoe;     -   the distance between the rear edge and the front edge of the         front recess is dimensioned to allow the front attachment device         of the clipless pedal to pass in the attachment phase of the         shoe in said pedal;     -   the distance between the lateral edges of the front recess is         larger on the front side of the monolithic sole than on the rear         side of said monolithic sole;     -   the underside of the monolithic sole is covered by an adhesive,         abrasion-resistant coating except for the front recess, the rear         recess and the area in contact with the clipless pedal during         the pedalling phase and the attachment and detachment phases of         the shoe.

According to alternative embodiments:

-   -   the front recess is emergent on the front end of the sole.     -   the sole comprises two side walls, a front wall covering the         toes and a rear wall covering the heel, the assembly forming a         single piece.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a kit facilitating transmission of the forces between the foot and pedal in the pedalling phases.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a kit comprising a clipless pedal and an assembly according to one of the foregoing configurations, wherein the front recess and rear recess respectively receive the front attachment device and the rear attachment device of said clipless pedal, the clipless pedal having a support area arranged between the front attachment device and the rear attachment device and facing a rotation shaft of the clipless pedal, the contact area being pressing on the support area.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method for securing between an assembly according to one of the foregoing configurations and a clipless pedal to form a connection providing an enhanced transmission of the forces when pedalling.

The method for securing an assembly according to any one of the foregoing configurations with a clipless pedal is remarkable in that the clipless pedal has a support area arranged between a front attachment device and a rear attachment device facing a rotation shaft of the clipless pedal and in that the method comprises the following steps:

-   -   providing the assembly and the clipless pedal,     -   fixing the front cleat with the front attachment device,     -   fixing the rear cleat with the rear attachment device, the         metatarsal region of the sole being pressing directly on the         support area of the clipless pedal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from the following description of particular embodiments and implementation modes of the invention given for non-restrictive example purposes only and represented in the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents a three-dimensional view of the bottom and of the inside of an assembly composed of a shoe with the monolithic sole according to the invention equipped with the front and rear cleats with their securing means, the assembly being attached to a clipless pedal in the pedalling position;

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the top surface of the clipless pedal where the front and rear attachment devices of the clipless pedal can be seen;

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of the bottom and of the outside of the monolithic sole according to the invention equipped with the front and rear cleats with their securing means. The contact area of the sole on the pedal is demarcated by the chain-dotted line;

FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional view of the bottom surface of the front cleat with its securing means;

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional view of the bottom surface of the rear cleat with its two securing means;

FIG. 6 represents a bottom view of the monolithic sole according to the invention equipped with the rear cleat with its securing means, enlarged over the area of the rear recess;

FIG. 7 represents a three-dimensional view of the bottom and of the outside of an assembly composed of the shoe with the monolithic sole according to the invention equipped with the front and rear cleats with their securing means and with the clipless pedal; the assembly being represented in an intermediate detachment phase of the shoe;

FIG. 8 represents a three-dimensional view of the bottom and of the inside of an assembly composed of the shoe with the monolithic sole according to the invention equipped with the front and rear cleats with their securing means and with the clipless pedal; the assembly being represented in an intermediate attachment phase of the shoe in the clipless pedal;

FIG. 9 is a three-dimensional view of the top and of the inside of the monolithic sole according to the invention;

FIG. 10 represents a three-dimensional view of the bottom surface and of the inside of the monolithic sole according to the invention equipped with the front and rear cleats with their securing means and partially coated with rubber studs;

FIG. 11 represents an alternative embodiment of the invention seen in three dimensions of the top surface and of the inside of the monolithic sole comprising two side walls, a front wall and a real wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a road cycling shoe 1 comprising the monolithic sole 2 according to the invention and equipped with a front cleat 4 and a rear cleat 5, the assembly being attached to a clipless pedal 3.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, monolithic sole 2 according to the invention is made from plastic or from composite material and its rigidity is such that it deforms as little as possible when subjected to the force exerted by the user when the latter performs a pedalling action. Said monolithic sole 2 comprises on its underside:

-   -   a front recess 6 located between the front end of monolithic         sole 2 and the contact area 9 with clipless pedal 3, and         substantially in the middle of the width of said monolithic sole         2.     -   a rear recess 7 positioned appreciably in the middle of the         length and of the width of said monolithic sole 2 and emergent         on the internal lateral side of said monolithic sole 2. The         internal side is the one situated on the same side as the pedal         system of the bike when the user is pedalling.

Front recess 6 is therefore situated in the area of the phalanges and rear recess 7 in that of the arch of the foot. Said front and rear recesses 6, 7 are dimensioned to respectively receive front attachment device 10 and rear attachment device 11 of clipless pedal 3 and to respectively receive front cleat 4 and rear cleat 5 so that they are totally integrated in the depth of said front and rear recesses 6, 7. Front and rear cleats 4, 5 are therefore not salient from monolithic sole 2, which means that the user can walk without said cleats 4, 5 hampering movement of the sole on the ground.

With reference to FIG. 3, area 9 situated in the metatarsal region, between front and rear recesses 6, 7, is smooth and is dedicated to a direct contact with the upper surface of clipless pedal 3 in order to transmit the forces directly from shoe 1 to clipless pedal 3, thereby enhancing the performance in the pedalling phases. The other advantage of this direct contact is that the distance between monolithic sole 2 and clipless pedal 3 is consequently zero, which is a feature (called “bio position”) that is sought for to enhance the performance when pedalling.

With reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, front cleat 4 is placed in contact with rear edge 12 of front recess 6 and is directed with front connection means 14 towards the front of monolithic sole 2. Rear cleat 5 is placed in contact with front edge 13 of rear recess 7 and is directed with rear connection means 15 towards the rear of said monolithic sole 2.

Front recess 6 comprises a hole passing through monolithic sole 2 designed to receive securing means 16 to secure front cleat 4. Rear recess 7 comprises two holes passing through monolithic sole 2 designed to receive securing means 16 to secure rear cleat 5. Securing means 16 are inserted in nuts, provided on the inside of shoe 1 or sunk in the material of monolithic sole 2.

With reference to FIG. 6, the front edge of rear recess 7 comprises a protuberance 8 salient in said rear recess 7. Said protuberance 8 is located between rear cleat 5 and the lateral side of monolithic sole 2 into which rear recess 7 emerges. Protuberance 8 is designed to push rear attachment device 11 of clipless pedal 3 towards the rear of monolithic sole 2 when a rotation movement of shoe 1 is performed towards the outside of the bike.

Rear recess 7 is emergent on the internal lateral side of the monolithic sole so as to allow rear attachment device 11 of clipless pedal 3 to pass through during the detachment phase of shoe 1 (described in the following paragraph).

According to the illustration of FIG. 7, in a detachment phase of the shoe from the pedalling position, the user performs a rotation of the foot, his heel moving towards the outside of the bike (action represented by the large arrow). During this movement, rear attachment device 11 of clipless pedal 3 moves in rear recess 7 of monolithic sole 2. When this movement relative to monolithic sole 2 takes place, rear attachment device 11 will come into contact with protuberance 8 which will then push rear attachment device 11 towards the rear of monolithic sole 2 (movement represented by the small arrow). As rear attachment device 11 is pre-stressed by a flexible member, movement of the latter will then create a force resisting detachment of shoe 1. During this first phase, shoe 1 is still attached to clipless pedal 3, and, by pursuing the rotation movement of the foot, shoe 1 will become detached when rear attachment device 11 escapes from rear cleat 5. Front attachment device 10 will detach naturally from front cleat 4 when rear attachment device 11 is detached from rear cleat 5.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the distance between rear edge 12 and the front edge of front recess 6 is dimensioned to allow front attachment device 10 of clipless pedal 3 to pass in the attachment phase of shoe 1 in said pedal 3 (described in the following paragraph). The distance between the lateral edges of front recess 6 is greater on the front side than on the rear side. Front recess 6 thus forms a narrower channel at the rear part to facilitate engagement and guiding of front attachment device 10 in the attachment phase of shoe 1 in clipless pedal 3.

With reference to FIG. 8, the attachment operation is performed by a relative movement of shoe 1 with respect to clipless pedal 3, from the rear to the front of the pedal (direction indicated by the arrow) while maintaining a contact between the bottom surface of monolithic sole 2 and the surface of clipless pedal 3 where front and rear attachment devices 10, 11 are located until front connection means 14 of front cleat 4 engages in front attachment device 10, followed by a downward movement of the heel (indicated by the small arrow) resulting in insertion of rear cleat 5 in rear attachment device 11 of said clipless pedal 3.

FIG. 9 shows that front and rear recesses 6, 7 respectively form a front bulge 17 and a rear bulge 18 on the upper surface of monolithic sole 2. Rear bulge 18 is situated at the level of the natural recess of the arch of the user's foot and front bulge 17 is situated in the natural recess of the user's phalanges. The contact between the foot and front and rear bulges 17, 18 thereby does not cause any inconvenience, thus preserving user comfort.

With reference to FIG. 10, monolithic sole 2 according to the invention is partially covered by an adhesive, abrasion-resistant coating 19 of rubber or similar type. The areas where monolithic sole 2 presses on clipless pedal 3 in the pedalling phase and in the attachment and detachment phases of shoe 1 are protected by coating 19.

In another embodiment, the thickness of monolithic sole 2 is such that its top surface is smooth. Front and rear recesses 6, 7 are sunk in the thickness of said monolithic sole 2 and bulges 17, 18 are therefore no longer present in this embodiment.

In a different embodiment, protuberance 8 is integrated in rear cleat 5, rear connection means 15 and protuberance 8 then forming a single piece.

According to another embodiment, the rear recess is not emergent and stops close to the internal lateral side of monolithic sole 2, the distance between the two lateral edges of rear recess 7 being such that it enables the shoe to be detached.

According to another embodiment, front recess 6 is emergent on the front end of the sole.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, monolithic sole 2 according to the invention comprises two side walls 20, a front wall 21 totally or partially covering the toes and a rear wall 22 totally or partially covering the heel, the assembly being in a single piece.

The other embodiments mentioned can be combined or be substituted for certain features described in the main embodiment.

The described invention is particularly well suited for competitive cycling on tarmac and on gravel, also encompassing cycle touring.

As indicated in the above, the sole, the assembly and the shoe possibly in association with the clipless pedal are mainly intended for cycling on tarmac or on gravel. The sole has to be rigid so as to transmit the cyclist's force exerted on the pedals as efficiently as possible. The sole is therefore more rigid than the equivalent sole that is to be found in mountain biking (MTB) with the exception of cross-country shoes.

Nowadays, cycling shoes for road racing and for amateur enthusiasts are almost all formed by a rigid sole that defines three or more holes on its surface which are holes for fixing a triangular cleat also called delta cleat. This configuration makes it possibly to have a monolithic sole that is sufficiently rigid to ensure a good power transfer. The cleat is fitted salient from the underside of the sole and fits onto the pedal.

Unfortunately this configuration is not optimal. To enhance the efficiency of power transmission between the cyclist and the pedal system, it is particularly advantageous for the distance between the foot and the rotation axis of the pedal to be as small as possible so that a maximum amount of power is transmitted during rotation of the pedal.

Consequently, it is particularly advantageous to modify the configurations of prior art soles so as to obtain a sole of small thickness which is at the same time sufficiently rigid to be used for road cycling.

An alternative embodiment of a sole is disclosed in the document U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,420 which proposes using a single triangular cleat arranged in a cavity hollowed out inside the sole. It is however apparent that this embodiment is difficult to implement and does not procure the desired advantages.

In conventional road cycling shoes, the nuts are in fact sunk in the thickness of the sole under the metatarsal region so that the thickness of sole is generally equal to or greater than 6 mm to ensure correct securing of the triangular cleat on the sole. As the document U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,420 uses a conventional integration of the securing nuts of the cleat, this results in the thickness of the sole facing the metatarsal region of the foot being substantially equal to that of conventional shoes and in the sole being thicker all around the cleat. This integration can be of interest for cycle touring where the user may walk regularly, but it does not enable the efficiency of power transmission between the foot and pedal system to be improved.

It is also apparent that the more rigid the sole, the more difficult it is to walk as the shoe hardly bends and the triangular cleat forming the front and rear cleats is particularly slippery which may result in the person falling. With conventional prior art shoes, the cleat fitted under the metatarsal region of the foot forms the main point of contact between the ground and the cyclist so that, when the user walks, the plastic cleat forms the pivot point that is able to slide. To reduce the risk of falling, it is common practice to integrate studs under the sole.

As indicated in the foregoing, to improve transmission of the forces between the cyclist and pedal, it is preferable to reduce the thickness of the interface between the foot and the pedal and in particular between the rotation axis of the pedal and the metatarsal region of the foot as far as possible.

The sole has an underside designed to press on an upper surface of the pedal. The sole has an upper surface designed to receive the cyclist's foot opposite the underside. The upper surface can be covered by one or more comfort layers. The sole also has opposite inner and outer faces.

The sole defines a first cavity called front recess 6 that is designed to receive a front cleat 4. The sole defines a second cavity called rear recess 7 that is designed to receive a rear cleat 5. Front cleat 4 and rear cleat 5 can be made from metal or from polymer material or from composite material.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9, it is particularly advantageous for the surface that presses on the pedal to be formed by the sole. Metatarsal region 9 of the cleat presses on the upper surface of the pedal so as to form a contact area ensuring a good power transfer. It is particularly advantageous for the curvature of the sole to be identical or substantially identical to that of the upper surface of the pedal so as to have an extensive pressing area between the sole and the pedal thereby enhancing transmission of forces.

Whereas prior art configurations provide for the pedal to be fixed to the sole by means of one or more fixing cleats separating the sole and the pedal, the illustrated configuration provides for the metatarsal region of the sole to press directly on the pedal, i.e. without the force provided by the foot on the pedal passing via the cleat in the downward phases of pedalling.

Metatarsal region 9 of the sole is located between front recess 6 and rear recess 7. The metatarsal region is preferentially devoid of any securing means, and for example is not provided with the nuts that are generally encountered in prior art soles. It is then possible to form a metatarsal region of smaller thickness than in the prior art, for example less than 4 mm and preferably less than 2 mm.

In preferential manner, front recess 6 and rear recess 7 are separated by metatarsal region 9 of the sole designed to be located facing the metatarsals of a user's foot, the metatarsal region forming contact area 9 with clipless pedal 3.

The metatarsal region is devoid of securing means 16 of front cleat 6 and rear cleat 7, the thickness of the metatarsal region being less than or equal to 4 mm.

In preferential manner, the metatarsal region is formed by a constant thickness.

In order to have a thin and rigid metatarsal region, it is particularly advantageous to shift the front cleat and rear cleat with respect to the conventionally used positions. It is advantageous to shift the front cleat towards the front of the foot until it is facing the phalanges. It is advantageous to shift the rear cleat towards the back of the foot to be facing the arch of the foot.

It is particularly advantageous to press on metatarsal region 9 instead of pressing on a cleat mounted salient from the sole as this enables the distance between the foot and the pedal to be reduced. However it is also advantageous to choose a sole configuration enabling a small thickness of sole and a light weight to be kept.

It is advantageous to provide for the first cavity or front recess 6 to be facing the phalanges and to form a first protuberance on the upper surface of the sole. The first protuberance is located facing the phalanges, i.e. in an area where the foot only presses lightly in the force transmission phase.

It is also advantageous to provide for the second cavity or rear recess 7 to be facing the arch of the foot. There again, in the case where a second protuberance linked to the second cavity is formed on the upper surface of the sole, the latter fills a part of the recess formed by the arch of the foot. The second cavity emerges only on the inner surface of the sole.

The protuberances associated with integration of the cleats in the thickness of the sole are formed in suitable areas of the sole.

In order to reduce the height of the first protuberance and/or of the second protuberance, it is advantageous to form a top wall of the cavity with a smaller thickness than the adjacent thickness of the sole around the recess. As the top wall of the cavity does not play a large role in the mechanical strength of the associated cleat, the thickness of the top wall can be at least 30% less than the thickness of the sole around the recess. It is even more advantageous to divide the thickness by at least a factor two.

In preferential manner, the sole is rigid, i.e. it is non-deformable when walked on with a shoe comprising said sole.

In order to keep a rigid sole and a low weight, it is preferable for the sole not to be perforated over its whole width which prevents deformation of the sole reducing transmission of forces.

In order to ensure a good force transmission when pedalling, it is advantageous for the area located under the heel to present a rib increasing the rigidity.

In this construction, the foot is only separated from the upper surface of the pedal by the sole and if applicable several comfort layers arranged on the upper surface of the sole. The configuration presented enables a metatarsal region to be formed having a thickness of less than 4 mm, i.e. substantially less than the conventional thickness of a nut performing securing of the cleat.

In an advantageous configuration, metatarsal region 9 can if required be covered by a reinforcing layer designed to protect metatarsal region 9 when the user walks with the sole. The reinforcing layer can extend from the front cleat up to the rear cleat. The reinforcing layer can also enhance sliding of the metatarsal region with respect to the pedal. It is also possible to integrate the reinforcing layer directly in the sole, for example by insert moulding. In advantageous manner, the thickness of the reinforcing layer is less than 1 mm.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9, it is particularly advantageous for the bottom surface of sole 2 to be curved or substantially flat. What is meant by “curved” is that underside of the sole curves up from the metatarsal region to front tip of the sole.

It is also preferable for the bottom surface of the front cleat to be flush with the underside of the sole or even slightly recessed in the thickness of the sole. It is also advantageous for the bottom surface of the rear cleat to be inside the sole, i.e. it protrudes out from the underside of the sole outside the rear recess or is even flush-mounted.

The front cleat is secured in the sole by means of a securing system, for example a screw. It is preferable for the front cleat to press on the lateral surfaces of the first cavity, i.e. in the widthwise direction of the sole without necessarily pressing on the bottom wall.

This configuration is mechanically stronger than a cleat fitted salient on the sole.

The rear cleat is secured in the sole by means of a securing system, for example a screw. It is preferable for the rear cleat to press on the lateral surfaces of the first cavity.

In the illustrated configuration, the front and rear cleats take advantage of the lateral surfaces of the cavities to enhance the strength conferred by the sole thereby ensuring an improved shear strength when the separation operations between the sole and pedal take place.

In this way, a part of the pedal is inserted in the thickness of the sole. When the thickness of the sole is small, it is possible for the front recess and/or rear recess to have a larger height than the thickness of the sole. In this particular case, the underside of the sole in the front and/or rear recess is located in a plane above the plane defined by the upper surface of the sole around the associated protuberance. In other words, the metatarsal region presents a thickness between the upper surface and the underside that is smaller than or equal to the depth of the rear recess. The protuberance provides reinforcement of the sole.

A part of the thickness of the protuberance can be compensated by the comfort layer or layers that are arranged on the upper surface of the sole to separate the foot and the sole.

As indicated in the foregoing, it is advantageous for the sole to be monobloc, i.e. formed by a single piece. It is also advantageous for the sole to only comprise the front cavity and rear cavity.

In the different illustrated embodiments, integration of the front and rear cleats in the thickness of the sole makes it possible to obtain a metatarsal region devoid of any insert, cleat or other salient parts. The metatarsal region of the sole is preferentially flat or planar to allow the formation of a larger contact area with the pedal.

In one embodiment, the sole is entirely made from composite material, for example carbon fibre. It is also possible to provide a moulded sole.

The sole can comprise adjustment means of the front cleat along the longitudinal axis of the sole so as to move the front cleat towards the front tip of the sole or towards the heel of the sole. The sole can comprise adjustment means of the rear cleat along the longitudinal axis of the sole so as to move the rear cleat towards the front tip of the sole or towards the heel of the sole.

The sole collaborates with a pedal called clipless pedal that is provided with front and rear attachment devices 10, 11 designed to collaborate respectively with front cleat 4 and rear cleat 5. The pedal has a body with a rotation shaft that is designed to be fixed to the bike. The body rotates around the rotation shaft.

The body defines a support surface receiving metatarsal region 9. During pedalling, metatarsal region 9 presses on the support surface making the pedal system rotate. The front attachment device and rear attachment device are separated by the support surface and by the rotation shaft.

In preferential manner, the metatarsal region of the sole presses on the support surface and a front part front of the sole presses on the front part of the body. It is also advantageous for the part rear of the sole to press on a rear part of the body.

Advantageously, the body defines a cradle with salient-mounted front and rear attachment devices 10, 11. The body is preferentially curved with an identical or substantially identical curvature to that of the front part of the sole. In this way, when the sole presses on the pedal, it has a more extensive bearing surface than in prior art configurations enhancing transmission of a large force on the rotation shaft and therefore on the pedal system.

The illustrated configuration enables a sole to be formed that is rigid while at the same time being thin and light. For example purposes, application of a force of 25N applied at a distance of 170 mm from the metatarsal region facing the rotation shaft of the pedal results in a displacement that is less than or equal to 10 mm, metatarsal region 9 being embedded. The force and displacement are applied and measured at 170 mm in the direction of the heel in order to represent a pedalling force.

The clipless pedal and the assembly formed by the sole and the front and rear cleats form a kit enhancing transmission of the pedalling forces.

Front recess 6 and rear recess 7 respectively receive front attachment device 10 and rear attachment device 11 of clipless pedal 3. The clipless pedal has a support area arranged between front attachment device 10 and rear attachment device 11 facing a rotation shaft of clipless pedal 3, contact area 9 being pressing on the support area.

The particular configuration of the sole with the front and rear cleats enhances the efficiency of fixing on the clipless pedal. The fixing kinematics remain conventional to facilitate acceptance by the general public. The method comprises the following steps:

-   -   providing the assembly and the clipless pedal,     -   fixing the front cleat with the front attachment device,     -   fixing the rear cleat with the rear attachment device, the         metatarsal region of the sole being pressing directly on the         support area of the clipless pedal. 

1-13. (canceled)
 14. An assembly composed of a monolithic sole made from plastic or from composite material of a cycling shoe, a front cleat and a rear cleat; wherein the monolithic sole is a rigid monolithic sole and defines a front recess and a rear recess; wherein the monolithic sole defines a contact area, the contact area being an area where the monolithic sole is designed to contact the clipless pedal so as to transmit forces directly to clipless pedal, the contact area being situated at a middle of a width of the monolithic sole; wherein the front cleat comprises a front connection means designed to collaborate with a front attachment device of a clipless pedal; wherein the rear cleat comprises a rear connection means designed to collaborate with a rear attachment device of the clipless pedal, the front cleat and the rear cleats being fixed to an underside of said monolithic sole; wherein the front recess is positioned between a front end of the monolithic sole and the contact area, the front recess being dimensioned to receive the front attachment device and to receive the front cleat; and wherein the rear recess is positioned in a middle of a length and in a middle of the width of the monolithic sole and the rear recess emerges onto at least one lateral side, the rear recess being dimensioned to receive the rear attachment device of the clipless pedal and to receive the rear cleat; wherein front cleats and the rear cleat are totally integrated in a depth of the front and rear recesses.
 15. The assembly according to claim 14 wherein the front cleat is in contact with a rear edge of the front recess and wherein the front connection means of the front cleat is directed towards the front end of the monolithic sole.
 16. The assembly according to claim 14 wherein the rear cleat is in contact with a front edge of the rear recess and wherein the rear connection means of the rear cleat is directed towards the rear end of the monolithic sole.
 17. The assembly according to claim 14 wherein the front recess and the rear recess each comprise at least one hole passing through a thickness of the monolithic sole, the at least one hole being designed to collaborate with a securing part.
 18. The assembly according to claim 14 wherein a front edge of the rear recess comprises a protuberance salient in the rear recess and situated between the rear cleat and a lateral side of the monolithic sole into which the rear recess emerges, the protuberance being designed to push the rear attachment device of the clipless pedal towards the rear end of the monolithic sole during a detachment phase of the shoe.
 19. The assembly according to claim 14 wherein the underside of the monolithic sole is covered by an anti-slip and abrasion-resistant coating except for the front recess, the rear recess and the contact area.
 20. The assembly according to claim 14 wherein the monolithic sole defines a metatarsal region designed to face metatarsals of a user's foot, the front recess and the rear recess are separated by the metatarsal region, an underside of the metatarsal region forming the contact area, and wherein metatarsal region does not comprise securing means designed for securing the front cleat and of the rear cleat respectively with the front connection means and rear connection means, a thickness of the metatarsal region being less than or equal to 4 mm.
 21. The assembly according to claim 14 wherein the monolithic sole defines a metatarsal region designed to face metatarsals of a user's foot, a bottom surface of the front cleat and a bottom surface of the rear cleat are flush with an underside face of the metatarsal region, or do not protrude from the underside of the monolithic sole and wherein the front cleat and the rear cleat are separated by the metatarsal region, the metatarsal region forming the contact area.
 22. The assembly according to claim 14 wherein the front recess is designed to be facing metatarsals of a user's foot and in that the rear recess is designed to be facing an arch of a user's foot.
 23. The assembly according to claim 14 wherein the front recess and the rear recess respectively form a first protuberance and a second protuberance on the upper surface of the sole, the first protuberance being designed to be facing phalanges of a user's foot and the second protuberance being designed to be facing an arch of a user's foot.
 24. The assembly according to claim 14 wherein the metatarsal region presents a thickness between the upper surface and the underside that is smaller than or equal to the depth of the rear recess.
 25. A kit comprising a clipless pedal and an assembly according to claim 14, wherein the front recess and the rear recess respectively receive the front attachment device and the rear attachment device of the clipless pedal, the clipless pedal having a support area arranged between the front attachment device and the rear attachment device and facing a rotation shaft of the clipless pedal, the contact area being pressing on the support area.
 26. The method for securing an assembly according to claim 14 with a clipless pedal having a support area arranged between a front attachment device and a rear attachment device and facing a rotation shaft of the clipless pedal, the method comprising the following steps: providing the assembly and the clipless pedal, fixing the front cleat with the front attachment device, fixing the rear cleat with the rear attachment device, the metatarsal region of the sole being pressing directly on the support area of the clipless pedal. 